Michigan Biographies

Jill Alper

A nationally recognized electoral and media strategist, Jill Alper is a Dewey Square Group Principal who leads the firm’s media and campaign practices, as well as the firm’s Michigan office.

Recognized by the American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC) as the nation’s “Best Democratic Campaign Manager” and named to Aristotle Inc’s “Democratic Campaign Manager Dream Team,” Jill has worked on six presidential campaigns and with corporate, non-profit and trade association clients.

Throughout the last 10 years, she has collaborated on over $50 million in media placements for multiple campaigns. Most notably, she was senior strategist to both Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm and Detroit Mayor Dave Bing as well as an advisor to the national 2008 Hillary Clinton for President campaign. Alper directed strategy for the successful 2008 stem cell ballot initiative as well as the paid media campaign to save the Detroit Institute of Arts. She has also provided general consulting services to organizations such as the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the Democratic Governors Association.

Jill first built her national reputation at the highest levels of national campaigns, including positions as the DNC Political Director in 1998 when the party surpassed mid-term expectations, and as the DNC’s National Coordinated Campaign Director from 1994-1998, running national voter contact and field operations for the entire Democratic ticket during the Clinton/Gore re-election campaign. From 2001- 2004, she served as an advisor to Senator John Kerry’s Citizen Soldier PAC and as an electoral strategist for the Kerry for President campaign. In 1999-2000, she coordinated state-specific media efforts for Vice President Al Gore’s presidential campaign. During the 1992 election cycle, she ran candidate recruitment and incumbent protection efforts for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

Jill also served as Michigan State Director for Clinton/Gore in 1992 and as Michigan strategist for the Presidential campaigns of Clinton/Gore, Gore/Lieberman, Kerry/Edwards, and Hillary Clinton. She is a member of the Democratic National Committee and has lectured at Harvard University, the University of Michigan and American University and trained at numerous progressive organizations such as EMILY’s List. She is a focus group moderator, media trainer, and has expertise in electing women candidates.

Jill lives in Grosse Pointe, Michigan with her family and bulldog, BOTUS.